PROVINCIAL TITLE:The revelation that Taiwan was labeled as ‘Taiwan Province of China’ comes as the government prepares to send a delegation to the WHA meeting

Deputy Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡), who was also present at the press conference, dodged questions on whether the arrangement on Taiwan’s participation necessitated Beijing’s approval.

However, Shen said he agreed that goodwill offered by Beijing in this regard was “limited.”

If Beijing had unreserved goodwill for Taiwan’s international space, Taiwan would not encounter the problems like this today, Shen said.

The memorandum was neither fair nor reasonable to Taiwan as it was not in line with the formula of Taiwan’s participation in the WHA, but the WHO had no choice but to do so to satisfy China, he said.

Shen said UN Resolution 2758, which transferred the seat at the UN from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China, was the root of the problem.

“The current administration has done much better than any previous administration,” as it has been able to let Taiwan appear at the WHA and have its voice heard under a name that is “sort of acceptable,” Shen said.

At a different setting, Ma said Taiwan and China were on an “equal footing” at the WHA.

“Our DOH Minister was addressed as ‘Minister of Health’ at the WHO’s invitation and at the WHA meeting, on an equal footing with mainland [China’s] minister. That never happened in the past 38 years. That earned our nation dignity and respect,” Ma said.